‘Air Racers 3D’ to soar into IMAX theaters

3D Entertainment USA, a 3D entertainment films company, has completed principal photography on its upcoming IMAX theater film about the Reno Air Races, “Air Racers 3D.”

Produced in association with L.A.-based Pretend Entertainment and Stereoscope, the film is an in-depth exploration of the fastest motor sport on Earth at the annual Reno National Championship Air Races & Air Show.

“Air Racers 3D” will take audiences into the sky in 3D and 2D at IMAX theaters in the US and other select territories beginning Feb. 10, 2012.

The film will have its industry premiere during the Giant Screen Cinema Association’s Annual Conference at the Texas State History Museum’s IMAX 3D Theater in Austin on Sept. 21.

“After three years of production that included the filming of the 2009 and 2010 editions of the Reno Air Races, we are very excited to bring this long-awaited action-packed film to aviation enthusiasts and moviegoers around the world,” said executive producers Francois Mantello and John Constantine. “‘Air Racers 3D’ will celebrate the science of flight and capture the thrill and excitement of this major sporting event attended by over 200,000 fans annually.”

“Thanks to the use of truly unique filmmaking methods, including a state-of-the-art helicopter mounted gyro-stabilized aerial 3D camera rig, a custom wing mounted camera and 3D cameras placed inside the cockpit, we will literally put moviegoers and fans in the middle of the highly-competitive action like never before,” said Christian Fry and Jean-Jacques Mantello, the film’s co-directors. “Viewers will soar through the air at more than twice the speed of a NASCAR race.”

“The final shoot took place earlier this month at Chino Airport (California) and Reno-Stead Airfield (Nevada), where the annual races are held,” added producer Raul Leckie of Pretend Entertainment. “As it is not permitted to shoot air-to-air photography during the actual races for safety reasons, we decided to re-stage them in grand fashion by assembling a spectacular array of fighter aircrafts, including the P-51 Mustang, Tigercat, Bearcat and T-6, and a cast of exceptional pilots, among them Steven Hinton Jr., Kent Pietch, Greg Poe, Stewart Dawson, Dennis Buehn, Heather Penny, Lee Behel, John Zayac, Brent Seghetti and Marilyn Dash.”

The aerial filming unit was run by renowned member of the Motion Picture Pilots Association, helicopter pilot Kevin LaRosa. The film’s aerial director of photography is critically-acclaimed David Nowell (“X-Men: First Class,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”). Currently in post-production in Los Angeles, the film was written by Rick Dowlearn & Christian Fry and features an original soundtrack composed by Christophe Jacquelin.

The Reno Air Races began in 1964. Pilots fight for position, running a tight 8-mile course marked off by ten giant pylons where flying a perfect line is critical for victory. “Fly low, go fast and turn left” is their motto.